Metal ribbon machine



'E QZZ EZM D L A W E D A 5 METAL RIBBON MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEYS L- M 4. BY PM,

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The Griscom-Russell Company,

New York,

., a Corporation of Delaware Application January 29, 1931 Serial No. 511,978

4 Claims.

This invention relates to metal ribbon making and more particularly concerns an improved method of forming a metallic ribbon and an improved machine for carrying this method into 6 effect.

One type of heat exchanger or condenser which has gone into extensive use employs fluid ducts or pipes having metallic fins spirally wound on the surfaces thereof. These fins are customarily formed of a continuous flat strip or ribbon of heat conductive metal such as copper, this ribbon being wound edgewise on the pipe by suitable means. It is highly desirable that the metallic ribbon employed in this manner he of uniform thickness and width in order that the winding thereof on the pipes may be' economically effected by the use of automatic machinery. In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide an improved method for treating an elongated metallic element such as a preformed continuous metallic ribbon whereby such element is pressed or formed to a uniform thickness and width throughout its length. A further object of the invention resides in the 2 provision of an improved and efficient machine for carryingthis method into effect.

In general, the method of the present invention comprises the simultaneous application of forming pressure to the opposite fiat surfaces and the opposite side edges of a continuous metallic ribbon or other element. In carrying out this method, it is preferred to employ a machine including a pair of parallel spaced driven rolls which cooperate to engage and press the opposite flat surfaces of the ribbon, and a second pair of parallel spaced rolls having their axes at right angles to those of the first rolls for engaging and pressing the opposite side edges of the ribbon at the point where the fiat surfaces of the ribbon are engaged and pressed by the first pair of rolls. The cylindrical surfaces of the ribbon edge engaging rolls preferably come into contact with theend surfaces of the flat surface engaging rolls at the point where these rolls engage the ribbon so that the ribbon passes through an opening of fixed dimensions formed by the moving cylindrical surfaces of the two sets of rolls and is thereby pressed to a uniform thickness and width. In order to prevent undue friction or locking between the rolls of the two sets due to expansion of the rolls caused by the heat generated in pressing the ribbon, it is pre ferred to mount the edge pressing rolls in such. a manner that their cylindrical surfaces yieldably engage the end surfaces of the flat surface engaging rolls.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one form of machine embodying the invention 0 and capable of carrying out the improved method has been disclosed. In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a metal ribbon forming machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figs 1 or 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine disclosed comprises generally, a base plate 1 carried on suitable standards 2 and carrying two upwardly extending substantially parallel frame members 3 and 4 connected at their upper ends by a head 5. The machine shown in the drawing is designed to simultaneously form two separate metallic ribbons and accordingly, the frame members 3 and 4 carry two identical vertically, spaced sets of ribbon forming means. In order to simplify the description, only one set of the ribbon forming means will be described in detail and the elements of the other set will be designated by like reference characters with distinguishing exponents.

The ribbon forming mechanism comprises generally a pair of substantially parallel ribbon flattening rolls 6 and '7 having their axes disposed horizontally and a pair of substantially parallel ribbon edge engaging rolls 8 and 9 having their axes disposed vertically. The cylindrical surfaces of the flattening rolls and the edge engaging rolls are spaced apart to form therebetween an opening having dimensions equal to those desired in the finished ribbon, this opening having movable sides formed by the cylin- 100 drical surfaces of the rolls.

The lower flattening roll 7 is fixed to a shaft 10 carried in the journals 11 which are fixed within the frame members 3 and 4. The journals 11 are so disposed that the shaft 10 and roll 105 7 are free to move axially of the shaft for a short distance. The upper flattening roll 6 is fixed to a shaft 12 carried in the journals 13 which are supported by the adjustable journal blocks 14. The journals 13 are spaced to permit a limited i the flattening rolls.

gagement between the cylindrical surfaces of amount of end play of the roll 6 and shaft 12, as shown in Fig. 5. If desired, anti-friction journals such as roller bearings may be employed throughout the machine. The journal blocks 14 are slidably supported in the openings or keyways 15 in the frame members 3 and 4.

The vertical positions of the journal blocks 14 may be variably adjusted by means of the screws 16 passing through the head 5 and bearing against the upper ends of the blocks, the blocks being held against the screws by means of the springs 17, as shown in Fig. 3. By changing the vertical positions of the blocks 14, the distance between the cylindrical surfaces of the flattening rolls 6 and 7 may be altered. The cylindrical surfaces 18 of the rolls 6 and '7 are preferably of a width equal to that required in the finished metallic ribbon.

The ribbon edge engaging roll 8 is rotatably supportedwithin an opening 19 of the frame 3 by means of a bearing bracket 20. The bracket 20 comprises a pair of spaced parallel bearing extensions 21 in which the shaft of the roll 8 is journaled, and an integral base member 22 which is fixed to the outer surface of the frame member 3 by suitable means such as the machine screws 23. The edge engaging roll 9 is rotatably supported'within an opening 24 in the frame member 4 by a bearing bracket 25, similar to the bracket 20. The bracket 25 is horizontally slidably supported by a pair of studs 26 fixed in the frame member 4 and passing through openings in the base member 2'7 of the bracket 25. The bracket 25 together with roll 9 carried thereby is resiliently pressed toward the roll 8 by means of the coiled compressed springs 28 carried on the studs 26 between the outer surface of the base member 2'7 and the nuts 29 fixed to the ends of the studs. Suitable stops in the form of set screws 32 are preferably fixed to the base member 27 of the bracket 25, and act to limit the inward movement of this bracket by engaging the outer surface of the frame member 4.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the cylindrical surfaces 30 and 31 of the ribbon edge engaging rolls 8 and 9 respectively engage the end surfaces of both of the flattening rolls 6 and '7 at substantially the point of closest proximity of In other words, the enthe edge engaging rolls and the end surfaces of the flattening rolls lies alongv a line passing through the centers of the two flattening rolls. As explained above, the flattening rolls 6 and 7 are free to move axially of their shafts, and accordingly,, the springs 28 maintain the cylindrical surfaces of both of the edge engaging rolls 8 and 9 in tight contact with the end faces of the flattening rolls 6 and '7.

The flattening rolls 6 and "I, as well as the corresponding lower flattening rolls 6 and 7, are preferably driven by a suitable source of power. In the disclosed embodiment, an electric motor 33 is connected through a worm 34 and a worm wheel 35 to the shaft 10 of the roll '7, and the rolls 6, 6 and '7' are driven from the shaft 10 through the gear wheels 36, 37, 38 and 39, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The preformed metallic ribbon 40 is preferably passed over a plurality of staggered straightening rollers 41 to remove all kinks and bends therein before passing through the forming rolls. The staggered rollers 41 are rotatably mounted with their cylindrical surfaces in alignment in the bracket 42 fixed to the frame members 3 and 4, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

In carrying out the method of the invention by use of the described machine, the flattening rolls 6 and 7 are first so adjusted that their cylindrical surfaces are spaced apart a distance equal to the desired final thickness of the ribbon. The preformed metallic ribbon 40 is then led over the straightening rolls 41 and drawn through the opening defined by the cylindrical surfaces of the rolls 6, 7, 8 and 9. The ribbon is propelled by the driven flattening rolls 6 and '7 which also transmit rotation to the edge engaging rolls 8 and 9. The flattening rolls 6 and 7 press the ribbon to the required thickness, and at the same time, the edge engaging rolls confine the edges of the ribbon to produce the required ribbon width. As a result of this treatment, the ribbon passing out of the machine has a uniform thickness and width.

The heat generated in the ribbon due to its deformation between the rolls is transmitted to the rolls and causes a slight expansion thereof. This expansion of the rolls compresses the springs 28 and accordingly, the binding or looking of the rolls due to heat expansion is avoided.

Although the method of the invention has been disclosed in connection with a single machine, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of the particular 105 structure shown, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for shaping a preformed con- 110 tinuous metallic ribbon to a uniform thickness and width, a pair of substantially parallel rib.- bon flattening rolls having their cylindrical surfaces spaced apart and their axes relatively fixed, a pair of substantially parallel ribbon edge 115 engaging rolls having their respective cylindrical surfaces in engagement with the opposite end surfaces of both of said flattening rolls at substantially the point of closest proximity of said flattening rolls and yieldable means for 120 permitting limited relative separation of the axes of said edge engaging rolls.

2. In a machine for shaping a preformed continuous metallic ribbon to a uniform thickness and width, a pair of substantially parallel rib-1 bon flattening rolls having their cylindrical surfaces spaced apart and their axes carried in relatively fixed journals, a pair of substantially parallel ribbon edge engaging rolls having their respective cylindrical surfaces in engagement with the opposite end surfaces of both of said flattening rolls at substantially the point of closest proximity of said flattening rolls and yieldably supported journals carrying at least one of said edge engaging rolls and permitting 135 limited movement of said roll away from the other of said edge engaging rolls.

3. In a machine for shaping a preformed continuous metallic ribbon to a uniform thickness and width, a pair of substantially parallel ribbon flattening rolls having their cylindrical surfaces spaced apart and their axes fixed a predetermined distance apart but axially movable, a pair of substantially parallel ribbon edge engaging rolls having their respective cylindrical surfaces in engagement with the opposite end surfaces of both of said flattening rolls substantially along a line passing through the centers of said flattening rolls, fixed journals for carrying one of said edge engaging rolls, movably mounted gaging rolls having their respective cylindrical surfaces in engagement with the opposite end surfaces of both of said flattening rolls substantially along a line passing through the centers of said flattening rolls, fixed journals for carrying one of said edge engaging rolls and means for permitting limited movement of the other of said edge engaging rolls either toward or away from said fixed edge engaging roll whereby said flattening rolls may move axially to a limited extent upon expansion or contraction of said fixed edge engaging roll.

EDWARD A. DEWALD.

Ill 

